Neely Kate made a beeline for the exit, but I whispered, “Slow down.” She set a slower, more purposeful path. I wasn’t about to let those guys think I was intimidated by them, even if I was.

We exited the building and quickly climbed into the car. Neely Kate started it up and drove across the parking lot toward the road.

Jed looked over his shoulder, his gun still out. “What the hell was that?”

“That was me taking charge.”

“He would have killed you, Rose.” He was furious.

“No, he wouldn’t have. Besides, I put him in his place.” I still had the gun in my hand, so I set it down on the seat next to me.

Neely Kate turned toward Fenton County, and Jed continued to look out the window. “It looks like they’re not gonna follow us.”

“Even if they did, they wouldn’t do anything,” I said.

Jed still didn’t look happy. “We may have gotten what we wanted, but we royally pissed him off.”

“He was too full of himself,” I said. “He was gonna try to broker a deal on his own. We need J.R.”

“You should have let me handle it!” Jed shouted.

“But the Lady in Black is supposed to be in charge!”

“I was negotiating!”

“And I was right there. And now I look a helluva lot stronger.”

“I’ll say you looked strong,” Neely Kate finally said, awe in her voice. “Are you like that every time?”

“Yeah,” Jed mumbled, obviously still unhappy. “And she’s gotten bossier every time.”

I shot him a dirty look.

Neely Kate shook her head. “I didn’t even recognize you in there.”

“I’m glad you didn’t, because I’m scared to death J.R.’s gonna figure out who I am.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Jed said. “But we’re gonna have to do damage control. Skeeter’s bound to find out we’ve turned on him.”

“We haven’t turned on him. We’re just makin’ Mick Gentry think we have.”

“Word’s gonna get out. Gentry will do everything he can to weaken Skeeter’s position.” Jed was silent for several seconds. “Where are you plannin’ on meetin’ the big guy?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“He might not even call.” Jed sounded a little more hopeful than I would have liked.

“He’s gonna call,” Neely Kate said. “They’re intrigued by her. Sure, they’re infuriated, but they’re intrigued too.”

Jed made Neely Kate drive around county back roads for an extra half hour before he decided we hadn’t been followed. Neely Kate pulled to a stop behind the Sinclair station, and I started to get out of the car.

“Rose.” Jed sounded hesitant.

I turned to look at my friend, because after everything we’d been through together, we were friends. “Jed, I’m sorry if I stepped on your toes.”

“No.” His jaw was tense, but his eyes were filled with worry. “Your instincts are good. Almost too good.”

I scowled. “I can’t say that doesn’t worry me.”

“Go with it for now, since this will likely save your hide.”

“And Mason’s and Skeeter’s.”

He nodded. “But don’t get too caught up in it. You can’t keep up with this double life, no matter what Skeeter thinks.”

I wanted to remind him that just last week he’d been upset that I was about to quit my role as the Lady in Black. But this was different. I’d crossed a whole new line tonight, and we both knew it.

I started to get out, then turned back around. “Where’d you get the money?”

A ghost of a smile appeared on his face. “It was your bail bond money.”

“He was really gonna pay it?”

“Yeah. But someone else beat Hale to it.”

“But he was gonna lose it, right? He’d never let me go to prison.”

Jed didn’t answer, which was answer enough.

I climbed out of the car and quickly changed, then got behind the wheel of my truck. Neely Kate got into the passenger side without speaking. Jed waited for us to drive off first, so I pulled out of the lot and started back toward the farmhouse. The silence in the truck gave me time to brood. When I performed my role as the Lady in Black, there was always a separation between the Lady in Black and Rose. But tonight, the line I usually skirted had not only blurred but faded altogether.

I couldn’t help wondering which part of me would be strongest when this was all said and done.

Chapter 16

It was after ten o’clock when we got back to the farm, but Neely Kate and I were too wound up to go to bed. I took Muffy outside, then Neely Kate and I changed into pajamas and the three of us snuggled up on the sofa with pillows and afghans to watch Netflix.

Around eleven, Mason sent me a text.

Are you awake?

Neely Kate was dozing on the opposite end of the sofa, so I hopped up and padded into the kitchen, where our conversation wouldn’t disturb her.

He answered right away, his voice as comforting as a warm blanket. Suddenly it all seemed to make sense. Mason was why I was taking these crazy chances. He was the reward at the end of this insanity.

“How’s Neely Kate?” he asked. “Did you girls have a good night?”

“I made potato soup, and we snuggled up and watched Netflix.” Okay, so I had left out a considerable chunk of the middle of our night. Feeling guilty about holding so much back, I added, “And I saw Joe.” I’d considered keeping it from him—at least until he got home—but maybe it would distract him from all my other secrets.